Information processing apparatus, positioning system and method for positioning a communication device

ABSTRACT

An information processing apparatus comprises a recording module; an extraction module which extracts maximum radio wave intensity from the radio wave intensities recorded in the same time zone and extracts the radio wave intensities of other first communication devices arranged in the vicinity of a position where the first communication device with the maximum radio wave intensity is installed; and a positioning module which measures a position of the second communication device based on the plurality of the radio wave intensities extracted by the extraction module, wherein the positioning module determines that the second communication device is present at a position where the first communication device with the maximum radio wave intensity is installed on condition that the maximum radio wave intensity extracted by the extraction module is equal to or greater than a threshold value.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority fromJapanese Patent Application No. P2016-161504, filed Aug. 19, 2016, theentire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

Embodiments described relate generally to an information processingapparatus, a positioning system, and a method for executing accuratepositioning.

BACKGROUND

Conventionally, there is known a positioning system using a neardistance radio technology. Such a positioning system measures a positionof a receiver for receiving a transmitter code based on the transmittercode capable of identifying a transmission transmitted from thetransmitter and a radio wave intensity of the transmitted transmittercode. The positioning system executes positioning based onidentification information transmitted from a plurality of thetransmitters and the radio wave intensities thereof to improve accuracyof the position of the receiver. Further, if the positioning is executedbased on the transmitter codes transmitted from the plurality of thetransmitters and the radio wave intensities thereof, the positioningsystem measures the position of the receiver according to a ratio of theradio wave intensities transmitted from the transmitters.

Moreover, the radio wave intensity of the transmitter code transmittedfrom the transmitter varies due to various factors, and there is a casein which a radio wave intensity stronger than expected is received dueto environment in which the transmitter is installed. In such a case, ina conventional positioning system, even if the receiver and thetransmitter are present at a substantially the same position, theposition of the receiver is measured by containing the transmitter codetransmitted from another transmitter and the radio wave intensitythereof. In other words, since the conventional positioning system isstrongly influenced by the radio wave intensity in a case in which theradio wave intensity of the transmitter code transmitted from thetransmitter that is not located nearby is stronger than expected, theposition of the receiver cannot be accurately measured.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating an example of a positioning systemaccording to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the hardwareconstitution of a transmitter;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the hardwareconstitution of a receiver;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the hardwareconstitution of a server device;

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating an example of the data constitution of apositioning setting table;

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating an example of the data constitution of ameasured value table;

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating an example of the data constitution of aroute table;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating characteristic functionalcomponents of each device in the positioning system;

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating an example of a GUI screen for operatingthe positioning system;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a receptionprocessing; and

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a positioningprocessing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In accordance with an embodiment, an information processing apparatuscomprises a recording module, an extraction module and a positioningmodule. The recording module records radio wave intensities of a neardistance radio communication between a plurality of first communicationdevices installed in an area for positioning an object and a secondcommunication device moving in the area in each time zone. Theextraction module extracts maximum radio wave intensity from the radiowave intensities recorded in the same time zone and extracts radio waveintensities of other first communication devices arranged in thevicinity of a position where the first communication device with themaximum radio wave intensity is installed. The positioning modulemeasures a position of the second communication device based on theplurality of the radio wave intensities extracted by the extractionmodule. The positioning module determines that the second communicationdevice is present at a position where the first communication devicewith the maximum radio wave intensity is installed on condition that themaximum radio wave intensity extracted by the extraction module is equalto or greater than a threshold value.

Hereinafter, an information processing apparatus, a positioning systemand a method for executing accurate positioning relating to theembodiment are described in detail with reference to the accompanyingdrawings. The embodiment described in the following is an embodiment ofthe information processing apparatus, the positioning system, and themethod for executing accurate positioning; and is not intended to limitthe constitution and specification thereof.

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating an example of a positioning system 1according to an embodiment. The positioning system 1 includes one or aplurality of transmitters 10, a receiver 20 and a server device 30. Thereceiver 20 and the server device 30 are connected in a communicablemanner via a network 40 such as an internet, a VPN (Virtual PrivateNetwork), a LAN (Local Area Network) and the like.

The transmitter 10 corresponds to a first communication device of thepresent embodiment. The transmitter 10 transmits a transmitter code asidentification information capable of identifying the transmitter 10itself through a near distance radio communication such as a BLE(Bluetooth® Technology Low Energy). The transmitters 10 are installed atpositions which are main positions for position detection in an area ofa facility into which the positioning system 1 is introduced.

The receiver 20 is a portable second communication device which is apositioning target such as a smart phone. The receiver 20 receives atransmitter code transmitted from the transmitter 10. The receiver 20transmits reception information to the server device 30 on conditionthat the transmitter code transmitted from the transmitter 10 isreceived. The reception information is used to notify that thetransmitter code is received from the transmitter 10. The receptioninformation contains a receiver code, date and time information, thetransmitter code and a reception radio wave intensity. The receiver codeis identification information capable of identifying the receiver 20. Inother words, the receiver code indicates the receiver 20 which is asending source of the reception information. The date and timeinformation indicates date and time at which the receiver 20 receivesthe transmitter code from the transmitter 10. The date and timeinformation may indicate a time zone. The transmitter code is receivedby the receiver 20 from the transmitter 10. The reception radio waveintensity is a radio wave intensity in the near distance radiocommunication between the transmitter 10 and the receiver 20. Morespecifically, the reception radio wave intensity is the radio waveintensity (hereinafter, referred to as a RSSI (Received Signal StrengthIndicator)) at the time the receiver 20 receives the transmitter codefrom the transmitter 10.

The server device 30 corresponds to an information processing apparatusof the present embodiment. The server device 30 measures the positionwhere the receiver 20 is present based on the reception informationtransmitted from the receiver 20. The server device 30 displays a screenon which a moving route of the receiver 20 is shown. The server device30 may be composed of a single device or a plurality of devices.

The outline of a positioning method in the positioning system 1 isdescribed.

The transmitter 10 transmits the transmitter code to an unspecifiedreceiver 20. The receiver 20 transmits the reception informationcorresponding to each transmitter code to the server device 30 in a casein which the transmitter codes are received from one or a plurality ofthe transmitters 10.

The server device 30 measures the position of the receiver 20 by any oneof a one-point positioning, a two-point positioning and a three-pointpositioning based on preset setting in a case of receiving the receptioninformation. In a case of the one-point positioning, the server device30 determines that there is the receiver 20 at a position at a distancecalculated based on the RSSI from the installation position of thetransmitter 10 with the received transmitter code.

In a case of the two-point positioning, the server device 30 measuresthe position of the receiver 20 based on the installation positions ofthe transmitters 10 respectively having received two transmitter codesand a ratio of the RSSIs of the transmitter codes. More specifically,the server device 30 calculates the distance by taking the ratio of theRSSIs received from the transmitters 10 as a ratio of distances from thereceiver 20 to the transmitters 10. For example, a distance between atransmitter A and a transmitter B is set to 10 m. In this case, the RSSIof the transmitter code received from the transmitter A is −50 dB, andthe RSSI of the transmitter code received from the transmitter B is −50dB. In this case, the server device 30 determines that there is thereceiver 20 at a distance of 5 m away from the transmitter A and 5 maway from the transmitter B.

In a case of the three-point positioning, the server device measures theposition of the receiver 20 based on the installation positions of thetransmitters 10 having the three transmitter codes received anddistances calculated based on the RSSIs of the transmitter codes. Morespecifically, the server device 30 calculates the distance from eachtransmitter 10 to the receiver 20 based on the RSSI of the transmittercode received from each transmitter 10. The server device 30 determinesthat there is the receiver 20 at a position satisfying the distance fromeach transmitter 10. For example, a case of executing the three-pointpositioning based on the RSSIs of the transmitter codes respectivelyreceived from a transmitter C, a transmitter D and a transmitter E isdescribed as an example. The distance from the transmitter 10 to thereceiver 20 calculated based on the RSSI is 3 m in a case of thetransmitter C, 4 m in a case of the transmitter D, and 5 m in a case ofthe transmitter E. In this case, the server device 30 determines thatthere is the receiver 20 at a distance of 3 m away from the transmitterC, 4m away from the transmitter D and 5 m away from the transmitter E.Further, the three-point positioning is not limited to a case in whichthere are three transmitters 10 and can be executed even in a case inwhich there are four or more transmitters 10.

The hardware constitution of each device in the positioning system 1according to the present embodiment is described.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the hardwareconstitution of the transmitter 10. The transmitter 10 includes acontroller 101, a storage section 102 and a near distance radiocommunication section 103. The controller 101, the storage section 102and the near distance radio communication section 103 are mutuallyconnected via a system bus 104.

The controller 101 controls the overall operation of the transmitter 10to realize various functions of the transmitter 10. The controller 101includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory) and aRAM (Random Access Memory). The CPU collectively controls the operationof the transmitter 10. The ROM stores various programs and data. The RAMtemporarily stores various programs and rewrites various data. The CPUexecutes a program stored in the ROM or the storage section 102 by usingthe RAM as a work area (working area).

The storage section 102 is a non-volatile storage device such as a flashmemory. The storage section 102 stores a control program 105. Thecontrol program 105 is an operating system or a program for exercisingthe function of the transmitter 10. The control program 105 includes aprogram for exercising characteristic functions according to the presentembodiment.

The near distance radio communication section 103 transmits thetransmitter code to the unspecified receiver 20 with the near distanceradio communication such as BLE.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the hardwareconstitution of the receiver 20. The receiver 20 includes a controller201, a storage section 202, a near distance radio communication section203, a measurement section 204, a sensor section 205, a communicationsection 206, a display section 207 and an operation section 208. Thecontroller 201, the storage section 202, the near distance radiocommunication section 203, the measurement section 204, the sensorsection 205, the communication section 206, the display section 207 andthe operation section 208 are connected to each other via a system bus209.

The controller 201 controls the overall operation of the receiver 20 torealize various functions of the receiver 20. The controller 201includes a CPU, a ROM and a RAM. The CPU collectively controls theoperation of the receiver 20. The ROM stores various programs and data.The RAM temporarily stores various programs and rewrites various data.The CPU executes a program stored in the ROM or the storage section 202by using the RAM as a work area (working area).

The storage section 202 is a non-volatile storage device such as a flashmemory, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or an SSD (Solid State Drive). Thestorage section 202 stores a control program 210. The control program210 is an operating system or a program for exercising the function ofthe receiver 20. The control program 210 includes a program forexercising characteristic functions according to the present embodiment.

The near distance radio communication section 203 receives thetransmitter code transmitted from the transmitter 10 with the neardistance radio communication such as the BLE.

The measurement section 204 is an electronic circuit for measuring theRSSI of the transmitter code received by the near distance radiocommunication section 203.

The sensor section 205 is a sensor for detecting movement of thereceiver 20. For example, the sensor section 205 is an accelerationsensor, an angular velocity sensor, a magnetic sensor or the like.

The communication section 206 is an interface for communicating with theserver device 30 via the network 40.

The display section 207 is a liquid crystal display device (LCD). Thedisplay section 207 is not limited to the liquid crystal display device,and may be an organic EL display device. The operation section 208 is atouch panel laminated on the display section 207. The operation section208 is not limited to the touch panel, and may be a hardware switch orthe like.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the hardwareconstitution of the server device 30. The server device 30 includes acontroller 301, a storage section 302, a communication section 303, adisplay section 304 and an operation section 305. The controller 301,the storage section 302, the communication section 303, the displaysection 304 and the operation section 305 are connected to each othervia a system bus 306.

The controller 301 controls the overall operation of the server device30 to realize various functions of the server device 30. The controller301 includes a CPU, a ROM and a RAM. The CPU collectively controls theoperation of the server device 30. The ROM stores various programs anddata. The RAM temporarily stores various programs and rewrites variousdata. The CPU executes a program stored in the ROM or the storagesection 302 by using the RAM as a work area (working area).

The storage section 302 is a non-volatile storage device such as an HDDor an SSD. The storage section 302 stores a control program 307, mapinformation 308, a positioning setting table 309, a measured value table310 and a route table 311. The map information 308, the positioningsetting table 309, the measured value table 310 and the route table 311are not limited to being stored in the server device 30, and may bestored in other devices such as the receiver 20.

The control program 307 is an operating system or a program forexercising the function of the server device 30. The control program 307includes a program for exercising characteristic functions according tothe present embodiment.

The map information 308 indicates a map in a range in which the receiver20 can be positioned in the positioning system 1.

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating an example of the data constitution of thepositioning setting table 309. The positioning setting table 309 is adata table for storing various setting relating to positioning of thereceiver 20 by each the transmitter code. The positioning setting table309 stores a transmitter code, an installation position, a receptionthreshold value, an approach threshold value, a positioning method, agroup and an area division in an associated manner.

The transmitter code indicates a transmitter code which is an object.The installation position indicates a position where the transmitter 10transmitting the transmitter code is installed. For example, theinstallation position is a coordinate indicating the position in the mapinformation 308. Alternatively, the installation position may indicatelatitude and longitude. The reception threshold value is a lower limitthreshold value of the RSSI used in the positioning. The approachthreshold value is an upper limit threshold value of the RSSI used inthe positioning. The positioning method indicates setting of thepositioning method. For example, the positioning method may be set toany one of the one-point positioning, the two-point positioning and thethree-point positioning. Further, the positioning method is setaccording to a position where the transmitter 10 is installed. Forexample, the one-point positioning or the two-point positioning ispreferable if it is not necessary to measure where the receiver 20 ispresent in a road width direction of a straight road of which the roadwidth is narrow. The transmitter code of the transmitter 10 which is acomparison object of the RSSI is set in the group in a case of two-pointmeasurement or three-point measurement. In a case of executing thetwo-point measurement or the three-point measurement, the transmitter 10used to be compared with the RSSI is selected from the group. Which oneof transmitter codes is set in the group is optional; however, forexample, the transmitter code of the transmitter 10 installed in thevicinity of the position where the transmitter 10 with the objecttransmitter code is installed is set. The transmitter 10 arranged in thevicinity of the position is, for example, an adjacent transmitter 10.The area division is information for designating the area in which thereceiver 20 is positioned. For example, the area division is thedesignation of a stair number such as a first floor, a second floor andthe like. If the position where the transmitter 10 is installed is aboundary part between the adjacent areas, information indicating thatthe position is the boundary part between the areas is set in the areadivision. In this case, the RSSI of the transmitter code of thetransmitter 10 located in other areas set in the group is also thepositioning object.

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating an example of the data constitution of themeasured value table 310. The measured value table 310 is a data tablein which the RSSIs of the transmitter codes received by the receiver 20are recorded in a chronological order. The measured value table 310stores the receiver code, date and time information, the transmittercode and the RSSI in an associated manner. The receiver code is theidentification information capable of identifying the receiver 20 whichreceives the transmitter code. The date and time information indicatesdate and time at which the transmitter code is received. The date andtime may indicate a time zone. For example, if the date and timeinformation is “2016/07/08 14: 14: 57”, the date and time informationmay indicate a time zone of “2016/07/08 14: 14: 57: 00˜2016/07/08 14:14: 57: 59”. The transmitter code indicates the received transmittercode. The RSSI indicates a value of the RSSI of the received transmittercode.

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating an example of the data constitution of theroute table 311. The route table 311 is data table in which a route ofthe receiver 20 poisoned by the positioning system 1 is stored. In otherwords, the route table 311 stores the position of the receiver 20positioned by the positioning system 1 in a chronological order. Theroute table 311 stores the receiver code, date and time information, ameasured position and a location area in an associated manner. Thereceiver code indicates the receiver 20 to be positioned. The date andtime information indicates date and time at which the receiver 20 ispositioned. The date and time information may indicate a time zone. Themeasured position indicates the position of the receiver 20 at the dateand time at which the receiver 20 is positioned. The location areaindicates an area in which the receiver 20 is located at the date andtime of the positioning. For example, the area indicates the stairnumber such as a first floor, a second floor and the like.

The communication section 303 is an interface for communicating with thereceiver 20 via the network 40.

The display section 304 is a liquid crystal display device (LCD). Thedisplay section 304 is not limited to the liquid crystal display device,and may be an organic EL display device.

The operation section 305 is an input device such as a keyboard, a mouseor the like. The operation section 305 receives an operation on theserver device 30.

Characteristic functions of each device of the positioning system 1according to the present embodiment are described. FIG. 8 is a blockdiagram illustrating characteristic functional components of each devicein the positioning system 1.

The controller 101 of the transmitter 10 copies or decompresses thecontrol program 105 stored in the storage section 102 on the RAM andoperates according to the control program 105 to generate eachfunctional section shown in FIG. 8 in the RAM. Specifically, thecontroller 101 of the transmitter 10 includes a near distance radiocommunication controller 1001 as the functional section.

The near distance radio communication controller 1001 controls the neardistance radio communication section 103 to transmit the transmittercode which is the identification information capable of identifying thetransmitter 10. Further, the near distance radio communicationcontroller 1001 may change the radio wave intensity of the transmittercode to be transmitted according to the setting. The near distance radiocommunication controller 1001 transmits the transmitter code withstronger radio wave intensity in a case in which there is a radio waveabsorber near the transmitter 10, and in this way, the receiver 20 canreceive the transmitter code with the proper radio wave intensity.

The controller 201 of the receiver 20 copies or decompresses the controlprogram 210 stored in the storage section 202 on the RAM and operatesaccording to the control program 210 to generate each functional sectionshown in FIG. 8 in the RAM. Specifically, the controller 201 of thereceiver 20 includes a near distance radio communication controller2001, a communication controller 2002, a display controller 2003, anoperation controller 2004 and a reception controller 2006.

The near distance radio communication controller 2001 controls the neardistance radio communication section 203 to receive the transmitter codetransmitted from the transmitter 10.

The communication controller 2002 controls the communication section 206to communicate with the server device 30. The display controller 2003controls the display section 207 to display various screens.

The operation controller 2004 controls the operation section 208 toreceive various devices. Further, the operation controller 2004 mayreceive various devices via a gesture instead of the operation section208. This case can be realized as long as the sensor section 205includes a motion sensor for detecting a gesture. The operationcontroller 2004 may control the motion sensor to receive variousdevices.

The measurement controller 2005 controls the measurement section 204 tomeasure the RSSI of the transmitter code received by the near distanceradio communication section 203.

The reception controller 2006 controls the reception of the transmittercode by the near distance radio communication controller 2001. Morespecifically, the reception controller 2006 starts the reception of thetransmitter code on condition that a positioning start request forstarting the positioning of the receiver 20 is input. Further, thepositioning start request may be information received by thecommunication controller 2002 from the server device 30 or an operationreceived by the operation controller 2004. The reception controller 2006requests setting information in which various settings relating to thepositioning as preparation of the positioning of the receiver 20 areshown on condition that the positioning start request is input. In otherwords, the reception controller 2006 transmits a transmission request ofthe setting information in the positioning setting table 309 and thelike to the communication controller 2002. The reception controller 2006changes a mode from a standby mode to a scanning mode on condition thatthe communication controller 2002 receives the setting information inthe positioning setting table 309 and the like. The standby mode is amode for waiting for the reception of the transmitter code transmittedfrom the transmitter 10. The scanning mode is a mode for receiving thetransmitter code transmitted from the transmitter 10.

The reception controller 2006 enables the measurement controller 2005 tomeasure the RSSI of the received transmitter code on condition that thenear distance radio communication controller 2001 receives thetransmitter code in the scanning mode. Herein, the RSSI of the neardistance radio communication is easily affected by reflection by walls,attenuation by an absorber and the like. In other words, there is a casein which the measurement controller 2005 measures the RSSI with anabnormal value due to various factors. In this way, if the RSSI with theabnormal value is contained in the measurement result, the positioningcannot be accurately executed.

Thus, the reception controller 2006 determines whether or not the RSSIis normal, in other words, whether or not the received transmitter codecan be adopted based on the measured RSSI. Herein, the determinationmethod of the RSSI can use various methods. For example, the receptioncontroller 2006 determines whether or not the RSSI of the receivedtransmitter code is equal to or greater than the reception thresholdvalue in the positioning setting table 309. The reception controller2006 determines that the RSSI is normal if the RSSI is equal to orgreater than the reception threshold value. On the other hand, thereception controller 2006 determines that the RSSI is abnormal if theRSSI is smaller than the reception threshold value.

The reception controller 2006 determines whether or not the RSSI can beadopted according to a statistical method. The reception controller 2006determines whether or not the RSSI is normal according to whethervariation is within an allowable range by using a median, an averagevalue or variance in statistics in three unit times. The receptioncontroller 2006 enables the communication controller 2002 to transmitthe reception information towards the server device 30 on condition thatthe RSSI is normal.

The controller 301 of the server device 30 copies or decompresses thecontrol program 307 stored in the storage section 302 on the RAM andoperates according to the control program 307 to generate eachfunctional section shown in FIG. 8 in the RAM. Specifically, thecontroller 301 of the server device 30 includes a communicationcontroller 3001, an operation controller 3002, a distance calculationsection 3003, a positioning controller 3004, a route recording section3005 and a display controller 3006.

The communication controller 3001 controls the communication section 303to communicate with the receiver 20.

The operation controller 3002 controls the operation section 305 toreceive various devices.

The distance calculation section 3003 calculates a distance from thetransmitter 10 to the receiver 20 based on the RSSI of the transmittercode transmitted by the transmitter 10. The distance calculation section3003 calculates the distance from the transmitter 10 to the receiver 20by using the RSSI according to an equation (1).RSSI(r)=A−10*B/log 10(r)  (1)

Wherein, r indicates the distance from the transmitter 10 to thereceiver 20.

A indicates the value of the RSSI in a case of measuring the radio waveof the transmitter 10 at a distance of 1 m away.

B indicates a constant of attenuation of the radio wave, and istheoretically 2.

The positioning controller 3004 functions as a recording module, anextraction module and a positioning module of the present embodiment.The positioning controller 3004 controls the positioning of the receiver20. More specifically, the positioning controller 3004 records the RSSIby each transmitter code in association with the receiver code and thedate and time information contained in the reception information oncondition that the communication controller 3001 receives the receptioninformation.

The positioning controller 3004 extracts the RSSI suitable to thepositioning from the RSSI of the transmitter code received at the dateand time which is the positioning object from the measured value table310 in the positioning of the receiver 20. More specifically, thepositioning controller 3004 extracts the transmitter code with thehighest RSSI at the same date and time information in the measured valuetable 310. The positioning controller 3004 extracts the positioningmethod of the extracted transmitter code from the positioning settingtable 309. If the positioning method is the one-point positioning, thepositioning controller 3004 measures the position of the receiver 20based on the installation position of the transmitter with the extractedtransmitter code and the distance calculated by the distance calculationsection 3003 from the RSSI of the extracted transmitter code.

If the positioning method is the two-point positioning or thethree-point positioning, the positioning controller 3004 selects aplurality of the transmitters 10 corresponding to the positioning methodof the extracted transmitter code from the group in the positioningsetting table 309. In other words, the positioning controller 3004extracts the RSSIs of the transmitter codes transmitted from theselected plural transmitters 10. If the positioning method is thetwo-point positioning, the positioning controller 3004 extracts thetransmitter code with the highest RSSI other than the transmitter codeextracted in the same date and time information from the group of themeasured value table 310. The positioning controller 3004 measures theposition of the receiver 20 according to the installation positionswhere the two extracted transmitter 10 are installed and a ratio of theRSSIs of the transmitter codes received from the two extractedtransmitters 10.

On the other hand, if the positioning method is the three-pointpositioning, the positioning controller 3004 extracts upper two of thetransmitter codes with high RSSI values other than the transmitter codeextracted in the same date and time information from the group of themeasured value table 310. The positioning controller 3004 measures theposition of the receiver 20 according to the installation positionindicating the position where the extracted three transmitters 10 areinstalled and each distance from each transmitter 10 calculated based oneach transmitter code received from each of the extracted threetransmitters 10.

The positioning controller 3004 calculates each distance from eachtransmitter 10 to the receiver 20 based on each of the RSSIs of thetransmitter codes received from a plurality of the transmitters 10 in acase of the two-point positioning and the three-point positioning. Thus,the positioning controller 3004 contains the RSSIs of the transmittercodes received from other transmitters 10 in the calculation object ofthe position of the receiver 20 even if there is the receiver 20 in thevicinity of the position where the transmitter 10 identified by thetransmitter code with the highest RSSI is installed. Thus, due to theRSSIs of the transmitter codes received from other transmitters 10,there is a case in which the positioning controller 3004 cannotdetermine that there is the receiver 20 in the vicinity of the positionwhere the transmitter 10 identified by the transmitter code with thehighest RSSI is installed. Thus, the positioning controller 3004determines that there is the receiver 20 at the position of thetransmitter 10 identified by the transmitter code on condition that theRSSI of the transmitter code is equal to or greater than the approachthreshold value of the positioning setting table 309 even if thetwo-point positioning and the three-point positioning are used.

The positioning controller 3004 may determine that there is the receiver20 at the position where the transmitter 10 identified by thetransmitter code with high RSSI is installed on condition that the ratioof the RSSIs of the plural transmitter codes that are extracted is equalto or greater than the threshold value. For example, the positioningcontroller 3004 determines that there is the receiver 20 in the vicinityof the position where the transmitter 10 identified by the transmittercode with high RSSI is installed on condition that the RSSI of thetransmitter code transmitted from one transmitter 10 is remarkablyhigher than the RSSIs of the transmitter codes transmitted from othertransmitters 10.

It is preferable that the positioning controller 3004 prevents thepositioning of the receiver 20 based on the RSSI of the transmitter codetransmitted from the transmitter 10 located beyond the object area. Forexample, although the receiver 20 is located at the first floor, if thepositioning is executed by using the RSSI of the transmitter codetransmitted from the transmitter 10 located at the second floor, theaccurate position of the receiver 20 can be measured. Thus, thepositioning controller 3004 excludes the RSSI of the transmitter codetransmitted from the transmitter 10 located beyond the object area fromthe positioning object. Specifically, the positioning controller 3004excludes the transmitter code of which the area division last timerecorded in the chronological order in the positioning setting table 309is different from the location area thereof in the route table 311 atthe time of extracting the transmitter code from the measured valuetable 310.

However, the positioning controller 3004 extracts the RSSI of thetransmitter code of the transmitter 10 located in the area where thetransmitter 10 identified by the transmitter code with the highest RSSIis not installed in a case in which the area division of the positioningsetting table 309 indicates the boundary part between the areas.Specifically, the positioning controller 3004 extracts the RSSI of thetransmitter code transmitted from the transmitter 10 located in otherareas set in the group of the positioning setting table 309. Thepositioning controller 3004 measures the position of the receiver 20with the two-point positioning or the three-point positioning by usingextracted RSSI.

The route recording section 3005 stores information relating to theposition of the receiver 20 measured by the positioning controller 3004in the route table 311 in a chronological order. In other words, theroute recording section 3005 records the measured position and thelocation area by each date and time of the receiver 20 positioned by thepositioning controller 3004 in the route table 311 in the chronologicalorder. Thus, the route recording section 3005 derives the route in whichthe receiver 20 moves.

The display controller 3006 controls the display section 304 to displayvarious screens. For example, the display controller 3006 displays a GUI(Graphical User Interface) screen for displaying the positioning system1 on the display section 304. FIG. 9 is a view illustrating an exampleof a GUI screen 3100 for operating the positioning system 1. The GUIscreen 3100 includes a mode selection area 3110, an object date and timedisplay area 3120, a display operation area 3130, a setting display area3140, a moving route display area 3150 and a setting operation area3160.

The mode selection area 3110 is an area for selecting a mode. The modeincludes a real time mode and a simulation mode. The real time mode is amode for sequentially displaying the reception information transmittedfrom the receiver 20. The simulation mode is a mode for displaying thereception information transmitted in the past from the receiver 20. Thesimulation mode includes an execution mode and a recalculation executionmode. The execution mode is used to call the positioning result that iscalculated based on the RSSI received in the past to display the screen.The recalculation execution mode is a mode of recalculating the positionof the receiver 20 by using the setting value changed in the settingdisplay area 3140 to display the updated location area.

The object date and time display area 3120 is an area for displayingobject date and time in the simulation mode. The display operation area3130 is an area in which an operator for operating the display of apositioning result in the moving route display area 315 is displayed.Operators for inputting operations such as “playback”, “stop”, “pause”,“rewind” “fast forward”, “playback speed”, “time bar” and “recalculate”are displayed in the display operation area 3130. The “playback” is anoperator for displaying the positioning result in a chronological order.The “stop” is an operator for stopping the display of the positioningresult in the chronological order. The “pause” is an operator fortemporarily stopping the display of the measurement result in thechronological order. The “rewind” is an operator for displaying thepositioning result in the chronological order. The “fast forward” is anoperator for displaying the positioning result in the chronologicalorder at a predetermined double speed. The “playback speed” is anoperator for displaying the positioning result in the chronologicalorder at a double speed of a selected number. The “time bar” is anoperator for displaying an optional positioning result. The“recalculate” is an operator for recalculating the positioning of thereceiver 20 based on the setting value displayed in the setting displayarea 3140.

The setting display area 3140 is an area for displaying various settingsrelating to the positioning of the receiver 20 for each transmittercode. In other words, the setting display area 3140 is an area fordisplaying various settings stored in the positioning setting table 309.The user can change setting values of various settings in the settingdisplay area 3140. The moving route display area 3150 is overlaid on themap information 308 and is an area for displaying the positioning resultof the receiver 20 stored in the route table 311 in the chronologicalorder. In the moving route display area 3150, the transmitter 10 isrepresented by an outlined circle. The transmitter code is displayed atthe inner side of the outlined cycle. On the other hand, the receiver 20is indicated by a black circle. The setting operation area 3160 is anarea in which an operator for operating the setting displayed in thesetting display area 3140 is displayed. Operators for inputting “save”and “set to the transmitter” are displayed in the setting operation area3160. The “Save” is an operator for saving the setting in the settingdisplay area 3140 in the storage section 302 and the like. The “Set tothe transmitter” is an operator for setting the setting in the settingdisplay area 3140 to the receiver 20.

Next, a reception processing executed by the receiver 20 in thepositioning system 1 according to the embodiment is described. FIG. 10is a flowchart illustrating an example of the reception processingexecuted by the receiver 20 in the positioning system 1 according to theembodiment.

The reception controller 2006 determines whether or not the positioningstart request for starting the positioning of the receiver 20 is input(Act S11). If the positioning start request is not input (No in ActS11), the receiver 20 stands by until the positioning start request issatisfied.

On the other hand, if the positioning start request is input (Yes in ActS11), the communication controller 2002 transmits a transmission requestof the setting information in the positioning setting table 309 to theserver device 30 (Act S12). The communication controller 2002 determineswhether or not the setting information in the positioning setting table309 is received (Act S13). If the setting information in the positioningsetting table 309 is not received (No in Act S13), the receiver 20stands by until the setting information in the positioning setting table309 is received.

On the other hand, if the positioning setting table 309 is received (Yesin Act S13), the reception controller 2006 sets the mode to the scanningmode for receiving the transmitter code transmitted from the transmitter10 (Act S14).

The near distance radio communication controller 2001 determines whetheror not the transmitter code is received (Act S15). If the transmittercode is not received (No in Act S15), the receiver 20 stands by untilthe transmitter code is received.

If the transmitter code is received (Yes in Act S15), the measurementcontroller 2005 measures the RSSI of the received transmitter code (ActS16).

The reception controller 2006 determines whether or not the receivedtransmitter code can be adopted as the positioning object according tothe RSSI (Act S17). If the transmitter code cannot be adopted (No in ActS17), the receiver 20 proceeds to the processing in Act S15.

On the other hand, if the transmitter can be adopted (Yes in Act S17),the reception controller 2006 generates the reception information (ActS18). The communication controller 2002 of the receiver 20 transmits thegenerated reception information to the server device 30 (Act S19).

In this way, the receiver 20 terminates the reception processing.

A positioning processing executed by the server device 30 in thepositioning system 1 according to the embodiment is described. FIG. 11is a flowchart illustrating an example of the positioning processingexecuted by the server device 30 in the positioning system 1 accordingto the embodiment.

The communication controller 3001 determines whether or not thereception information is received (Act S21). If the receptioninformation is not received (No in Act S21), the server device 30 standsby until the reception information is received.

On the other hand, if the reception information is received (Yes in ActS21), the positioning controller 3004 stores the received receptioninformation in the measured value table 310 (Act S22).

The positioning controller 3004 selects the transmitter code from themeasured value table 310 (Act S23). In particular, the positioningcontroller 3004 selects the transmitter code with the highest RSSI ineach date and time in the measured value table 310 excluding thetransmitter code transmitted from the transmitter 10 in the areadivision different from the location area of the route table 311.

The positioning controller 3004 extracts the measured method associatedwith the selected transmitter code from the positioning setting table309 (Act S24).

The positioning controller 3004 determines whether or not the RSSI ofthe selected transmitter code is equal to or greater than the approachthreshold value (Act S25).

If the RSSI is smaller than the approach threshold value (No in ActS25), the positioning controller 3004 selects the transmitter code withthe number thereof corresponding to the measurement method (Act S26).The positioning controller 3004 measures the position of the receiver 20according to the determined measurement method (Act S27).

On the other hand, if the RSSI is equal to or greater than the approachthreshold value (Yes in Act S25), the positioning controller 3004determines that there is the receiver 20 in the vicinity of the positionof the transmitter 10 identified by the transmitter code with thehighest RSSI (Act S28).

In this way, the server device 30 terminates the positioning processing.

As stated above, according to the positioning system 1 according to thepresent embodiment, the server device 30 determines that there is thereceiver 20 at the same position as the transmitter 10 identified by thetransmitter code if the RSSI of the transmitter code received by thereceiver 20 is equal to or greater than the threshold value. Thus, theserver device 30 can accurately measure the position.

While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments havebeen presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit thescope of the invention. Indeed, the novel embodiments described hereinmay be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, variousomissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodimentsdescribed herein may be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended tocover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope andspirit of the invention.

In the foregoing embodiment, the transmitter 10 is installed at thepredetermined position. It is described that the receiver 20 moves bybeing carried by the user. However, which one of the transmitter 10 andthe receiver 20 is fixed is optional. In other words, the receiver 20may be installed at a predetermined position. The transmitter 10 maymove by being carried by the user.

In the foregoing embodiment, functions of each device of the positioningsystem 1 are described. However, the assignment of the functions of theeach device in the above embodiment is merely an example and may beother assignment. In other words, the receiver 20 or the server device30 may have a part or all of the functions of the transmitter 10.Alternatively, the transmitter 10 or the server device 30 may have apart or all of the functions of the receiver 20. The transmitter 10 orthe receiver 20 may have a part or all of the functions of the serverdevice 30.

In the above embodiment, the case in which the information processingapparatus is applied to the server device 30 is described. However, theinformation processing apparatus may be the receiver 20 which is asmartphone or the like. If the transmitter 10 is a smartphone, theinformation processing apparatus may be the transmitter 10 which is thesmartphone.

The programs executed by each device of the foregoing embodiment and themodification may be incorporated into a storage medium (ROM or storagesection) of each device to be provided; however, the present inventionis not limited to this. The programs may be recorded in acomputer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a FD (FlexibleDisk), a CD-R, a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) and the like in the formof installable or executable file to be provided. Further, the storagemedium is not limited to a medium independent from a computer or anembedded system and also contains a storage medium that stores ortemporarily stores the programs by downloading the programs transmittedthrough a LAN or an Internet.

Further, the programs executed by each device of the foregoingembodiment and the modification is stored in a computer connected with anetwork and downloaded via the network to be supplied or may be suppliedor distributed via the network such as the Internet.

What is claimed is:
 1. An information processing apparatus, comprising:a recording module configured to record radio wave intensities of a neardistance radio communication between a plurality of first communicationdevices installed in an area for positioning an object and a secondcommunication device moving in the area by each time zone; an extractionmodule configured to extract a maximum radio wave intensity from theradio wave intensities recorded in the same time zone from a firstcommunication device and to extract radio wave intensities of otherfirst communication devices arranged in the vicinity of a position wherethe first communication device with the maximum radio wave intensity isinstalled; a positioning module configured to measure a position of thesecond communication device based on the plurality of the radio waveintensities extracted by the extraction module; and the positioningmodule further configured to determine that the second communicationdevice is present at a position where the first communication devicewith the maximum radio wave intensity is installed on condition that themaximum radio wave intensity extracted by the extraction module is equalto or greater than a threshold value.
 2. The information processingapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the positioning moduledetermines that the second communication device is present at a positionwhere the first communication device with the maximum radio waveintensity is installed on condition that a ratio of the plurality of theradio wave intensities extracted by the extraction module is equal to orgreater than a threshold value.
 3. The information processing apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the recording module records a movingroute of the second communication device by recording the position ofthe second communication device measured by the positioning module in achronological order.
 4. The information processing apparatus accordingto claim 2, wherein the recording module records a moving route of thesecond communication device by recording the position of the secondcommunication device measured by the positioning module in achronological order.
 5. The information processing apparatus accordingto claim 1, wherein the extraction module extracts the radio waveintensity of the first communication device located in an area where thefirst communication device is not installed as the radio wave intensityof other first communication devices on condition that the radio waveintensity of the first communication device installed at a boundary partbetween areas in which the first communication device is installed asthe maximum radio wave intensity.
 6. The information processingapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of firstcommunication devices comprises at least two first communicationdevices.
 7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the plurality of first communication devices comprises at leastthree first communication devices.
 8. A positioning system, comprising:a recording module configured to record radio wave intensities of a neardistance radio communication between a plurality of first communicationdevices installed in an area for positioning an object and a secondcommunication device moving in the area by each time zone; an extractionmodule configured to extract a maximum radio wave intensity from theradio wave intensities recorded in the same time zone from a firstcommunication device and to extract the radio wave intensities of otherfirst communication devices arranged in the vicinity of a position wherethe first communication device with the maximum radio wave intensity isinstalled; a positioning module configured to measure a position of thesecond communication device based on the plurality of the radio waveintensities extracted by the extraction module; and the positioningmodule further configured to determine that the second communicationdevice is present at a position where the first communication devicewith the maximum radio wave intensity is arranged on condition that themaximum radio wave intensity extracted by the extraction module is equalto or greater than a threshold value.
 9. The positioning systemaccording to claim 8, wherein the positioning module determines that thesecond communication device is present at a position where the firstcommunication device with the maximum radio wave intensity is installedon condition that a ratio of the plurality of the radio wave intensitiesextracted by the extraction module is equal to or greater than athreshold value.
 10. The positioning system according to claim 8,wherein the recording module records a moving route of the secondcommunication device by recording the position of the secondcommunication device measured by the positioning module in achronological order.
 11. The positioning system according to claim 8,wherein the extraction module extracts the radio wave intensity of thefirst communication device located in an area where the firstcommunication device is not installed as the radio wave intensity ofother first communication devices on condition that the radio waveintensity of the first communication device installed at a boundary partbetween areas in which the first communication device is installed asthe maximum radio wave intensity.
 12. The positioning system accordingto claim 8, wherein the plurality of first communication devicescomprises at least two first communication devices.
 13. The positioningsystem according to claim 8, wherein the plurality of firstcommunication devices comprises at least three first communicationdevices.
 14. A method for executing accurate positioning, including:recording radio wave intensities of a near distance radio communicationbetween a plurality of first communication devices installed in an areafor positioning an object and a second communication device moving inthe area by each time zone; extracting a maximum radio wave intensityfrom the radio wave intensities recorded in the same time zone from afirst communication device and extracting the radio wave intensities ofother first communication devices arranged in the vicinity of a positionwhere the first communication device with the maximum radio waveintensity extracted is installed; measuring a position of the secondcommunication device based on the plurality of the radio waveintensities; and determining that the second communication device ispresent at a position where the first communication device with themaximum radio wave intensity is arranged on condition that the maximumradio wave intensity extracted is equal to or greater than a thresholdvalue.
 15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising:determining that the second communication device is present at aposition where the first communication device with the maximum radiowave intensity is installed on condition that a ratio of the pluralityof the radio wave intensities extracted is equal to or greater than athreshold value.
 16. The method according to claim 15, furthercomprising: recording a moving route of the second communication deviceby recording the position of the second communication device measured ina chronological order.
 17. The method according to claim 14, furthercomprising: recording a moving route of the second communication deviceby recording the position of the second communication device measured ina chronological order.
 18. The method according to claim 14, furthercomprising: extracting the radio wave intensity of the firstcommunication device located in an area where the first communicationdevice is not installed as the radio wave intensity of other firstcommunication devices on condition that the radio wave intensity of thefirst communication device installed at a boundary part between areas inwhich the first communication device is installed as the maximum radiowave intensity.
 19. The method according to claim 14, wherein theplurality of first communication devices comprises at least two firstcommunication devices.
 20. The method according to claim 14, wherein theplurality of first communication devices comprises at least three firstcommunication devices.